'An Economic Theorist in the Age of Big Data': a public lecture by Matthew Ryan
| Date: | Tuesday 27 Aug, 4:30pm - 5:30pm |
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| Location: | AUT City Campus WG Building, WG308 Wave Room Auckland New Zealand |
| Cost: | Free |
Inaugural professorial address by Matthew Ryan
The world is awash with data, and social scientists are particularly drenched. What is the role of a pure theorist, armed only with logic, in this data-centric environment? If you want to see the world in granular detail, or even to forecast the future, a wealth of data is a fine thing. But if you want to understand the world, it is important to view data through a theoretical lens. Decision theory builds structures with which to organise data on human behaviour. Data also has an internal logic of its own, and readily misleads those who fail to appreciate that logic. In this inaugural professorial address, Professor Ryan will discuss the value of mathematical decision theory to empirical social science by illustrating some “data illusions” and their logical resolution. The discussion will centre on the use of Big Data by algorithmic decision tools.
Professor Ryan was educated at the University of Auckland, Victoria University of Wellington and Yale University. His research is predominantly in decision theory. This is an interdisciplinary field encompassing economics, psychology and mathematics; Professor Ryan has published in all three areas. He is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Mathematical Economics. Prior to joining AUT in 2014, Professor Ryan held positions at the University of Auckland and the Australian National University.